Tigers must keep pace in SEC

With its back against the wall last weekend, the Auburn baseball team came through, winning a Southeastern Conference series against last-place Mississippi State.

The win preserved Auburn’s shot at a spot in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. But it’s far from time to celebrate. With two weeks left in the SEC schedule, the Tigers must keep winning to stay in the hunt for the conference tournament.

The top eight finishers in the SEC standings qualify for the SEC tourney. Auburn (26-23, 10-14 SEC) is in 11th place, a game out of eighth.

To keep pace, Auburn likely needs a 4-2 record over the next two weeks, starting this weekend at Ole Miss.

It won’t be easy. The Rebels (31-19, 12-12 SEC) are second in the SEC in pitching and are 23-8 at home.

But Auburn coach Tom Slater believes his team can do it.

“We just need to go out and play to win,” Slater said. “Our kids have been doing that all year. They know the significance and the importance of trying to win series.

“We’ll go out there and try to win another series this weekend.”

The Tigers will be without freshman left-hander Cory Luckie, their No. 2 starter, this weekend. Luckie hasn’t pitched since injuring his forearm at Alabama on April 26.

Slater has juggled his pitching rotation since then. Sophomore Taylor Thompson has taken Luckie’s place as the Saturday starter.

The right-hander has been inconsistent this season, but pitched well last Saturday against Mississippi State.

“We weren’t surprised by his outing at all,” Slater said of Thompson. “He’s worked really hard. He’s gotten better.”

Junior Luke Greinke has entered the rotation as the Sunday starter, replacing freshman Bradley Hendrix. Greinke, who allowed one run in six innings last Sunday against MSU, looked fully recovered from shoulder tendonitis.

“When his arm’s healthy and feeling good, that’s what he looks like,” Slater said. “No surprises there.”

The series begins at 6:30 p.m. today at Swayze Field in Oxford, Miss.

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